Bra assembly

Abstract

Bras and methods of forming bras suitable for nursing activities and closure assemblies that are convenient to manipulate. The bra assembly includes a pair of breast cups that are secured to a torso band. A first closure assembly is disposed between each breast cup and the torso band and extends in a lateral direction generally below a respective breast. A second closure assembly includes first and second portions that are each secured to a respective breast cup. The first and second portions of the second closure removably cooperate with one another such that each breast can be selectively exposed by lateral outward translation of the respective breast cup. Another aspect of the invention includes a closure assembly that reduces the number of clasp associations that must be manipulated to effectuate the opening/closing of the bra assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bra assembly comprising:
 a torso band being an elongate structure configured to extend about a torso of a wearer; 
 a first breast cup and a second breast cup connected to the torso band, each breast cup defined by a laterally outward edge, a cleavage edge, an upper edge, and a longitudinal lower edge, wherein each laterally outward edge is inseparably connected to the torso band; 
 a first shoulder strap and a second should strap that each respectively extend between a respective one of the first breast cup and the second breast cup and a back portion of the torso band; 
 a first breast cup closure assembly disposed between the first breast cup and the torso band; 
 a second breast cup closure assembly disposed between the second breast cup and the torso band, each of the first and second breast cup closure assemblies being operable to selectively secure the longitudinal lower edge of the respective first and second breast cup to the torso band; 
 a cleavage edge closure assembly between the first breast cup and the second breast cup and includes a first portion secured to the cleavage edge of the first breast cup and a second portion that removably cooperates with the first portion and is secured to the cleavage edge of the second breast cup such that the first breast cup and the second breast cup can each be selectively swung in a respective outward lateral direction to expose a breast disposed therebehind without affecting a position of the other breast cup; 
 wherein the first and second breast cup closure assemblies are disposed between the cleavage edge closure assembly and the torso band, and 
 wherein the torso band is inseparable at a location below and between the first and second breast cups. 
 
     
     
       2. The bra assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first breast cup and second breast cup closure assemblies are each further defined as one of a zipper and a hook and loop closure assembly. 
     
     
       3. The bra assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cleavage edge closure assembly is further defined as an elongated clip wherein the first and second portions cooperate with one another to accommodate engagement and disengagement between the first and second portions. 
     
     
       4. The bra assembly of  claim 1  wherein the torso band and the first and second shoulder straps are continuous and inseparable. 
     
     
       5. The bra assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a back closure that includes a first portion that is attached to a first end of the torso band and a second portion that is attached to a second end of the torso band, the first and second portions of the back closure selectively cooperating with one another to secure the first and second ends of the torso band to one another. 
     
     
       6. The bra assembly of  claim 5  wherein the back closure further comprises a closure assembly configured to removably cooperate with the first portion and the second portion of the back closure. 
     
     
       7. The bra assembly of  claim 6  wherein the closure assembly of the back closure includes a first part that removably cooperates with the first portion of the back closure and a second part that removably cooperates with the second portion of the back closure and the first part of the closure assembly. 
     
     
       8. The bra assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a selectively operable rear closure having a first portion associated with a first end of the torso band and a second portion that removably cooperates with the first portion and is associated with a second end of the torso band. 
     
     
       9. A method of forming a nursing bra, the method comprising:
 connecting a right breast cup and a left breast cup to a torso band, the torso band being an elongate structure configured to extend about a torso of a wearer, the torso band being inseparably connected to respective lateral outward edges of the right and left breast cups; 
 connecting a bottom edge of each of the right and left breast cups to the torso band with a variable length closure having a first portion secured to a respective one of the right and left breast cups and a second portion secured to the torso band; 
 connecting a cleavage edge of each of the right breast cup and the left breast cup directly to each other with a selectively operable closure configured to assist operation of the variable length closure during opening and closing operation of each of the right and left breast cups; and 
 wherein the variable length closures connected to the bottom edges of the right and left breast cups are disposed between the selectively operable closure and the torso band. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  further comprising forming the variable length closure as one of a zipper closure mechanism, a snap and button closure mechanism, and a hook and loop closure mechanism. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  further comprising extending a shoulder strap from an upper edge or each of the right and left breast cups to a rear portion of the torso band. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing a selectively operable rear closure having a first portion associated with a first end of the torso band and a second portion that removably cooperates with the first portion and is associated with a second end of the torso band. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing a closure assembly configured to be disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the selectively operable rear closure and provide fewer interfaces that must be associated to effectuate opening and closing the closure assembly than must be associated to effectuate opening and closing of the selectively operable rear closure. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  further comprising forming the torso band as a continuous loop.